Romans 6 Baptism
On February 20, 1964, a baby boy was born, to a young scared military couple, in the naval air station in Jacksonville Florida. This baby was born prematurely. He was a blue baby. His lungs were not working right. His heart had issues. The doctors told his parents this child would not live 10 hours. He did, but still his mother was not allowed to see the baby for 3 days because the doctors were convinced he would die at any minute.
Both parents were Christians from their childhood. The mother came from a Methodist background. The father, a Presbyterian. The hospital chaplain came and asked the parents if they would like the baby to be baptized. They said yes, so he sprinkled their baby. Later the base chaplain came and asked a similar question. The parents again said yes, so the base chaplain sprinkled the baby. Later the mother’s pastor came by and he too sprinkled the baby.
As the Lord’s will was worked out, the baby lived. 2 years later the young family moved to Palatka, FL. where the dad was invited to church weekly by one of his customers, until he and his young family began attending Francis Baptist Church. It was in this church that the family’s now 6-year old son, came to faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized by immersion.
My question to you this morning, This young boy was baptized 4 times over a period of 6 years. “Which of that young boy’s baptisms stuck?”
Open your Bibles this morning and turn with me please to Romans chapter 6. Romans chapter 6.
- Read Romans 6:1-11
As we look at this passage this morning, look there again with me please at verse 3.
- Read Romans 6:3-4
Paul asked them a question here. He says, are you unaware of your baptism? Do you not know why you were baptized. Do you not know what it means? Do you not know what it stands for, what it indicates?
Sadly, many folks in our churches these days, many who have been baptized, have no idea what baptism indicates. They have no idea why they were baptized, or why it is important to be baptized. They have no idea if or when they should allow their children to be baptized.
So, this morning I would like to talk about baptism.
I. THE MEANS OF BAPTISM
Our church, and our denomination baptizes by immersion. we do this for primarily 3 reasons.
1. The meaning of the word.
The word baptize comes from the word “Baptizzo” which means to dip, or immerse. It was used to describe fabric that was immersed in dye to be colored. So, historically, the word translated as baptize means to dip or to immerse.
2. The examples in scripture
In almost every instance where we find the word baptize used in the New Testament, it appears to refer to someone who has been immersed.
In Matthew 3, where John the Baptist baptizes Jesus, it says that Jesus went down into the Jordan and that He came up out of the water. Acts 8:38 says that he went down into the water.
So, it appears that baptism by immersion was practiced by the early church.
3. The picture it portrays
It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior.
- Romans 6:3-4
Baptism is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is one of the reasons we believe in baptism by immersion.
When we are baptized it is also a picture of our death in Christ, and when we come up out of the water, it is a picture of the new life we live through Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion most accurately depicts what has taken place when we follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Now, for these reasons and others, our church practices baptism by immersion. Does that mean we do not, or cannot fellowship with believers who believe differently than we do? No. The means of baptism is something we hold to as a group of believers, but it does not define who is saved and who is not.
We will fellowship with and work with other churches and other Christians who believe differently than we do in this area.
I have family who are and have been practicing Presbyterians who baptize differently than we do. I have friends and family who are active in the Methodist church, who believe differently in this area than we do. That does not mean we cannot work with them, it simply means that as a group of believers, we believe differently in this area than they do.
We have looked briefly at the means of baptism. Let’s look for a minute at the purpose of baptism.
II. THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM
What is the purpose of baptism?
There are some who mistakenly teach that we are baptized in order to wash our sins away, that somehow this water is going to cleanse us from our sins.
I once visited with a Church of Christ pastor in our community. He teaches and they are absolutely convinced that baptism is required for salvation. To support this, they erroneously point to Acts 2:38, where Peter says,
> Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
They sadly miss, just a few verses earlier in the very same sermon where Peter says in Acts 2:21,
> Acts 2:21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Whoever shall call. Not those who are called and baptized, but whoever shall call.
The thief on the cross looked over at Jesus, having never attended church, having never tithed, having never taught a Sunday School class, having never walked an aisle, and said in Luke 23:42,
> Luke 23:42 . . . Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
And Jesus answered him,
> Luke 23:43 . . . Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
For the past couple of months, less the past 2 weeks when I took a detour, we have been studying the book of Romans. We have covered a number of different subjects in our study so far, but one theme jumps out at us again and again.
Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If we are saved by grace through faith, how is baptism suddenly required?
> Joel 2:32 . . . everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
> Romans 10:13 whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
> Ephesians 2:8-9 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
If we are not baptized in order to be saved, then what is the purpose of baptism?
Baptism pictures, or reminds us of what happened to us when we became followers of Jesus Christ.
1. We died with Jesus -
- Read Romans 6:3-4
a. Our Old Nature Died
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you have already died. You are not the same person you used to be. That old person has died.
b. Our future death will not be as bad
If I have already died with Jesus. Then my future death will not be near as frightening, because it will not have the same consequences. It will not have the same outcome.
Since we died with Christ, and He died His death for us, our death will not be the same as the world will experience.
> 1 Corinthians 15:52-55 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?
Baptism pictures our death with Jesus, but it also pictures our life with Jesus.
2. Baptism pictures our new life with Jesus.
- Read Romans 6:4
When a person is baptized, do they stay in the water? Do they stay under the water? No. Eventually, depending on how much you have irritated me before I baptized you, eventually you come up out of the water.
Baptism pictures your death with Christ, but it also pictures your new life with Jesus. When you come up out of the water, it is a picture of resurrection and of the new life you live with Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life.
> Colossians 2:12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
When Jesus was buried, did He stay there? Did He stay in the tomb lamenting what He had just done? Did He sty in the tomb complaining about how He had been treated? No. He stayed in the tomb 3 days, then He got up and got busy doing the other stuff the Father had called Him to do.
The same is important for you and I.
We were buried with Him by baptism unto death, that like as Christ was raised up from the red, even so should, we walk in newness of life.
In other words, our baptism doesn’t just picture our death with Christ, but it also pictures the new life we are to live with Jesus at the controls.
> 2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are become new.
Old things are passed away. Praise the LORD! But, there are new things to do too. There is a new life to live.
> Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body,[a] I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Read Romans 6:10-11
Oh yes. I have been baptized into the death of Christ. But I have also been baptized into the life of Jesus. I don’t sit around lamenting the things I did in the past that I cannot undo. I rejoice in the fact that I can live a new life with Jesus as the Lord of my life.
> Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I have sinned. But, baptism reminds me that I was buried with Jesus. But, baptism also reminds me that just as Jesus rose from the dead, I have risen too. The old Gene has died. There is a new Gene, with new things to do, with a new assignment.
My friend, I don’t know how long you have run, what you did in the past, how many people you hurt, how many you disappointed, or how disappointed you are in yourself, but I do know this, Jesus is giving people fresh starts everyday. Jesus is giving new assignments every day.
You can’t go back and make up what was missed, but you can start new and fresh right here and right now, for you too can have your old buried with Christ through baptism. You too can walk in newness of life.
This place is not my home, and I have things to do to prepare for the new home I’m heading to.
- Read Romans 6:4
Together we have looked at the means of baptism and the purpose of baptism, let’s think for a minute about the importance of baptism.
III. THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM
Two weeks ago we looked at the Lord’s Supper, that important memorial meal the Lord Jesus instituted the night before His crucifixion. We said, that was one of 2 ordinances Jesus established. That was 1 of 2 things He ordained. The second is baptism.
On the day He ascended into heaven, on the day He went to leave the disciples, He gave them their parting assignment.
> Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Did you hear that? Jesus told us to go and make disciples, and as part of that process He says we are to baptize folks.
Jesus ordained baptism. He said, “Look, this is important.”
Why is baptism important? It’s important because Jesus said it was. And baptism is one of the first opportunities we have to demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.
In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks the question,
> Luke 6:46 Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but not do what I say?
Jesus says do it, so I am going to. It is one of my first acts of obedience after becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. I am demonstrating that Jesus really is the boss in my life.
It is also important because it gives you the opportunity to testify that Jesus is your Lord.
A retired missionary from the Philippians once told John Piper she was glad he taught on the importance of baptism because when she was working in the Philippines, people would begin attending church and would make a profession of faith, and their families largely ignored the changes until the day they were baptized. IOn that day their families would realize that there had been a change. There actually was a new commitment, and out was on that day that the opposition and persecution among their friends and family really began, because it was on that day when the new believers testified that they were now following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Through their baptisms, they testified that there was a new Lord at the helm of their lives and their families were upset.
My friend, baptism gives us the opportunity to say to our families and friends, to say to our Lord, and our accuser, “Today I profess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I am not my own. I have been bought with a price.
Let me ask you my friend, have you been baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? Have you testified to the world that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior? Have you responded to the Lord command by saying, “Yes, Lord?”
Oh, and in response to my earlier question. On the first 3 occasions when that baby’s parents had him baptized, they were saying, “We love our child. We want him saved, both physically and spiritually. We don’t know what else to do. Lord, we commit our child to you.”
But on the 4th occasion, a little boy walked down the aisle at his church. On that occasion he said, “I know that I have sinned. I am sorry. Jesus please forgive me.” On that day, he confessed with his mouth Jesus is Lord, and believed in his heart God had raised Him from the dead, and on that day Jesus came into His heart to be his Lord and Savior and he was gloriously saved.
When he was baptized the next week, he did so, obediently, with the faith of a little child.
